The 10 Traits Of Great Innovators

Rebecca O. Bagley
, ContributorI write about strategies that accelerate the pace of innovation.Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.

Continued from page 1

4. Innovators are committed to diversity and understand it takes many different points of view to fully grasp the complexity of economic, technological and other challenges.

5. Innovators have let go of the high-control, low-trust model of leadership and lead by directing from the center of their organizations. They empower employees to be creative and develop the skills they need to move to the next level in their careers.

6. Innovators are not taking shortcuts and are not afraid of going after more complex solutions, even if it means taking higher risks.

7. Innovators understand innovation is not a one-time thing and that start-up companies as well as those that are several generations old have to continuously reach above and beyond what they have done before to stay competitive. This requires innovators to be effective change managers who know how to navigate through resistance to their ideas.

8. Innovators are not afraid to break with the norm and push past conventional wisdom that causes people to think in a box. They are aware customers don’t always know what they want.

9. Innovators understand paying too much attention to traditional business metrics can inhibit companies from making breakthroughs. At the same time, however, their business success speaks for itself.

10. Innovators contribute new, unconventional ideas of their own.

Innovation takes place on many levels. The big breakthroughs usually get the attention. But if we want America to maintain its competitive edge in the long run, we need to encourage, support and celebrate innovation on a smaller, much broader scale, as well. It all starts with leadership. So let’s make sure our companies can identify innovative leadership when they see it – and seize it.